FBI helping Somali pirate hostage negotiations

The Maersk-Alabama is a US-based cargo ship owned by a Danish shipping giant.

AFP

Negotiations are taking place for the release of the American captain of a cargo ship attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

The FBI has been called in by the US Navy to assist with the hostage negotiations.

Captain Richard Phillips is being held hostage in a nearby lifeboat after attempts by the crew to exchange him for a captured pirate were apparently botched.

Captain Phillips' sister-in-law Gina Coggio says he tried to save his crew from the pirates by volunteering to be their hostage

"What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage ... to keep the rest of the crew safe," she said.

"That is what he would do. It's just who he is, and [it's] his responsibility as a captain."

The Maersk-Alabama, a US-based cargo ship owned by Danish shipping giant Maersk, was on the way to deliver food aid to the Kenyan port of Mombasa when it was seized by the pirates about 500 kilometres off the Somali coast.

The attackers took the 20 American crew members hostage and stopped the 17,000-tonne vessel earlier this morning (Australian time).

A short time later the crew retook the container ship but its captain was held hostage in one of the ship's lifeboats.